Railroad switch point and heel plate



sept. 7 ,1926. 1,598,830 1 E. D. SWlFT RAILROAD SWITCH PQNT AND FEEL PLATE Filed Jan. 6, i926' LEAVE-4:41122@ Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITE STATES EUGENE D. STTET, 0F CHICAGD. IELLINOES.

RALRGAD SWTECH T:ON'E .AND HEEL PLATE.

Application led January 6, 1926.

rlhis invention relates to a railroad switch and concerns itself primarily with 'the mounting of the movable switch member or point so that the same will always be free to shift. ln other words, there .is provided a lost motion connection that will never decrease or be taken up by the wearing or biting coaction of parts so that the movable member or point will not be torced to bend when the switch line is operated.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying' drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this invention and in which similar' reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

Figure l is a plan view of a railroad switch.

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view through the rails l and 3 and the heel block.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view upon the line lll-Hl orl Figure l.

Figure et is a side elevational view of the heel block.

i-rs shown on the drawings:

[is an exempliiication of this invention, there is shown a railroad track comprising the rails l, 2, 3 and 1l, and the movable switch members or points 5 and 6. Between the rails l and 3 there is a heel block 7. A similar heel block 7 is positioned between the rails 2 and e. rllhe points or switch members 5 and 6 respectively form continuations of the rails 4 and 3. An angle member 8' fits between the head and flange of the rail 3 and switch member 6, and a metal strip 9 fits against the web of the rail l. Suitable clamping bolts 'l0 and ll clamp the parts 8, 9, l, 3 and 7 together. Between the angle member 8 and the heel block 7 ad- Y jacent the movable switch member 6, there is a lost motion way 12 to provide for a swinging movement of'the switch member 6. rlhis lost motion way is preferably formed by making a gradually increasing recess or groove in the heel block 7, the widest portion of the recess being at the end of the switch member where the greatest are Serial No. 731,534.

of movement taires place. According to this construction the movable switch member 6 will have al fulcrum adjacent the side of the heel block at the rear of said recess. lin the present instance, this fulcrum is located between the bolt 1l and the'adjacent end of the heel block.

lt should be understood that while only the connection of the switch member 6 has been specifically illustrated, the connection of the switch member 5 is the same as can. readily be ascertained from Figure 3.

rlhe switch members 5 and 6 are connected by a rod 13 connected to a pull crank lever l-i pivoted at its apex to a suitable snpport and operated by a link l5.

lt will be obvious that as the switch members are laterally shifted, they will fulcrum upon the sides of the heel blocks, the confined ends thereof swinging in the lost motion way l2. It will be appreciated that a very firm connection is thus-wise produced, which always provides a swinging movement, since it is impossible for the lost motion way to decrease or disappear by the moving together of parts as commonly occurs in the structures now in use.

l am aware that many changes mayv be made, and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departingl from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting` the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

l claim as my invention:

l. A switch structure for a railroad comprising a pair of stationary rails, a heel block positioned between said rail and a switch member fulcrumed intermediate its ends against Asaid block, said block being cut away beyond said fulcrum to allowsaid switch member to swing.

2. In a railroad switcln a pair of stationary rails, a heel block positioned between said rails, a switch member fulcrumed upon one side of said block, said block being fashioned to provide a tilting space adjacent said switch member beyond the fulcrum point thereof.

ln a railroad switch, a pair of rails, a heel bloclr ietween said rails7V one side of said heel block having a gradually increased recess and a. switch member fuicrumed upon the said side of said block and having the portion beyond said fuicrum lying insaid recess.

4. In a railroad. switch, a pair of co-operative members, a switch member having an end projecting between said members, one

of said members forming a, fulerum for an intermediate portion of said switch member and having a way for swinging movements 10 of the said end of said switch member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

EUGENE D. SWIFT. 

